FIRST IUI

So after quite a few months of giving TTC a break (mostly due to dental surgery and such) I have decided to come back full force this year with TTC a beautiful bundle of joy! Last year was the first year that I actually went to a fertility doctor to receive help in finding out answers behind why I have NEVER been able to conceive. So last year I had an HSG done (tubes are good, uterus is good), blood work, boyfriend's swimmers checked (swimmers good), plenty of vaginal ultrasounds done (ovaries look normal, n cyst) , was on Clomid for 3 months (March to May), 3rd month was a monitored cycle that included non-medicated and medicated vaginal u/s and me taking a trigger shot and the nurse also discovered what looked like a growth on the inside of my uterus, and last but not least a saline sonogram which confirmed the growth on the inside of my uterus right in the spot where implantation occurs, endometrial polyp was removed on 8-1-11. We still don't know if the Clomid created the growth or if the growth was already there and the Clomid just increased the growth. At that point I gave TTC what was suppose to be a mini break due to dental surgery. Most of you know I have been TTC for many years. So far, I have not been diagnosed with a specific Infertility diagnosis. My doctor believes I have ovulation problems but nothing can be confirmed as far as PCOS goes or anything. So I still dont know why I cant conceive and it hurts. Close to 9 years of TTC now...

So instead of trying Clomid again with scheduled bedding, we have decided to go straight for IUI this time. We were suppose to go for IUI after my growth was removed. Since my bf does not currently have medical insurance, it has been a bit rough coming up with the money to pay for the State Mandatory Blood Work necessary for IUI. There were a few times where we could have and I just kept putting it off and I am not sure if its because I have been super discouraged behind all of this TTC stuff. With this new year I have decided to stop procrastinating and just do it. The only thing stopping us has been my bf's blood work since it takes a bit for the results. So as of 1-20-12, it is done!! And now we wait for the results. I am becoming more and more excited!

We are hoping the results will be in before March because we are planning on doing the IUI with my cycle that should be at the end of March. Reason being is because my menses and bf's work schedule conflict until the end of March. I am sure time will fly by though. So I have decided to keep track of my first IUI by writing this journal. I will let everyone know when I have updated it. Sorry for writing so much already, just wanted to give everyone a rundown on what I have been through so far.

All comments are welcome to anyone who has been through IUI before. I would really love to hear your stories :)

I emailed my RE and he said all blood work came back negative yay!! We are ready to go full force with IUI as soon as our schedules will allow which looks to be the end of March! So excited!

2-27-12 UPDATE

Okay so this is so unexpected but good news. As you know, we have had to schedule this IUI around my boyfriends work schedule, so we "were" gonna have to wait until my next cycle at the end of March. Well, things changed with his work schedule and he will indeed be home for us to go through with it this cycle that I just begun. I thought that since I am on CD 4 today that maybe it was too late to start the process, but I called my nurse and she said CD 5 is the latest, which works out because that will be tomorrow. So I have a pre-medicated u/s appointment at 4 pm tomorrow afternoon to see where my ovaries stand and what my uterus looks like at this point in my cycle. My doctor should prescribe me Clomid to take starting tomorrow. Then I will have a medicated u/s done mid cycle, so sometime next week. This will determine what is going on with my follicles and my doc will tell me when to use the trigger shot. Then I believe he will also tell me when he needs to do the IUI itself. Ahhh. Its happening SO fast and I am SO nervous! I will update below with each appointment by date with details. =D!

2-28-12 UPDATE

CD 5: Had a pre-medicated u/s done today. Doctor says everything looks good. Uterus lining is where it should be, no cysts and no polyps. Therefore he has started me on Clomid tonight for the next 5 days. I have a medicated u/s scheduled for Tuesday 3/6 at 7:30 am. So I will update with details after that appointment. According to how things "should" go, I will be having the IUI done on 3/7 or 3/8. I am a lil nervous because normally I take Clomid CD 3 through CD 7 and this time I am taking it CD 5 through CD 10.

50 mg of Clomid:

2/28 - 1 pill
2/29 - 1 pill
3/1 - 1 pill
3/2 - 1 pill
3/3 - 1 pill

* I talked to my RE about the success rates with IUI. He explained that the actual IUI in itself is great for those who have hostile cervical mucus or maybe a low sperm count issue, but that the main ingredient is the medication. He said that my body responds very well to Clomid and that there is no need to increase the dosage because all that does is increase unnecessary side effects, same with injections. He also said he can will do up to 3 IUI's if need be and then we might discuss a referral for IVF. He assumes that I do not ovulate regularly and that is why my cycles are considered to be too short. So I am hoping that this IUI will work. Considering the medication works well on me and they will be placing the swimmers in the right spot at the right time, I am praying to God this works. I honestly do not know how much more of this I can handle....

3-6-12 UPDATE

I am happy to report that I had my medicated u/s appointment this morning that went well! Below are the details and schedule for my very first IUI....

Left side has a few follicles but my doctor said they weren't worth charting since I will be focusing on the 2 good ones on my right side.

HCG Shot at 10:30 p.m. tonight 3-6-12.

Specimen drop off at 9:00 a.m. on 3-8-12 (1 1/2 hour prep time)

Actual Insemination will be done at 10:30 a.m. on 3-8-12.

I must admit, I am a complete nervous wreck! Everything seems to be going so well and I am so afraid that it won't work for whatever reason. Deep Sigh. The good thing is, I am not internally stressing as much as I thought I would be. BUT I am definitely having a hard time getting my hopes up! Any encouragement is more than appreciated and much needed right now!! If anyone has any advice or has had a successful IUI on the first try, it would be awesome to hear your story!

3-8-12 UPDATE

Today was the big day!! It seems so surreal. I know its only insemination but somehow it seems bigger than that. Everything seems to be lined up just perfect! But I am so afraid of a let down. Sigh

9:00 a.m. - Steve dropped off his sample.

10:30 a.m. we showed up for the IUI. But we didn't get seen till almost 11 a.m. Doc said normal sperm quality is about 75% after washing it and ours was at 90% swimming fast!! =D That brought my hopes up so high! I just hope one of them make it happen! It only took a few minutes for the actual process. Didn't hurt but felt very different. I laid down for bout 15 minutes and went back to work lol. She instructed us to have sex for the next 4 days in a row to increase our chances. I believe I must have ovulated today because I used an opk this evening and it was negative. So now its the dreadful 2ww...

3-21-12

BFN!
AF showed up! Better luck next time.

Again, I would like to thank each and every one of you ladies for ALL of your support. It means the world to me. I couldn't get through this without you!

It means so much to me! I am not gonna lie, I am very discouraged but I am trying my hardest to stay focused on what I CAN do and not focus on what I cannot do, ya know? *Deep sigh* I guess there is only one thing to do and that is move forward and take things one step at a time.

Thanks again and I am sending loads and loads of baby dust to the both of you wonderful ladies in my corner!!

I am so happy you are getting the IUI ball rolling! Take one day at a time. I wish you will get through the process without any complications and I am rooting for you to hold your bundle(s) of joy in your arms by christmas 2012. I am here if you need to talk. SSBD!

I have a good feeling Jess!!! I am so excited to hear about all of the steps for the procedure to help me out with IUI if the need comes for me to have to go that route. I <3 ya lady keep your head up because you are going in the direction and well on your way to having a beautiful baby (babies God willing!!!) very soon!!!

<3, Ash

PS-Try your HARDEST to stay positive!!! Will your mind into believing this WILL work!!! You never know!!! ;)

wishing you all the luck in the world ive been ttc for almost 6yrs now and i know its hard to see all those bfn it actually numbs you after a while and the bfn is not a suprise at all it is like this on my case ive got irregular periods and i have low progesterone so i started taking vitex and its starting to make af regular thank god! ive tried clomid before up to 150mg's it worked yes but i didnt concive :( if i dont get pregnant in the next year with vitex im going straight for ivf i have no time to waist whats stopping me right now is my weight but im working on that i was going for ivf this summer but i have decided to loose the weight before going through ivf and give vitex a chance ssbd to you doll.

Thank you so much for your support and just for being there for me through all of this! It just feels so good knowing I have you rooting for me to become a Momma :D! Not many people on the outside could understand our yearning to be Mothers on here, ahhh. I am really nervous because in all honesty, if IUI doesn't work, we really can't afford IVF. But I am staying positive and keeping the faith!

Thank you again for everything! I am sending trucks loads of baby dust to you my friend xoxo!

Giiirl your words warmed my heart <3 I love ya too my dear sweet friend!! I will keep updating this journal so that way you can always refer back to it for if and when that time comes for you to do IUI. I am gonna try my very best to believe that this WILL work! I have my moments of doubt but the path to true faith always goes through doubt ;-). I don't know anyone who is TTC that isn't scared but let me just say, with the friends like you on here who ALWAYS have my back, I feel like superwoman at times and like nothing can stop this from happening. I was the one stopping myself and I am no longer going to do that. I am moving forward. Leaving the rest up to the higher power!

Thank you again Ash for your support!! So glad to have you back on here!! *hugs*

Awwwe you are soooo sweet!! Thank you! You hit the head on the nail when you said you become numb after so many years of battling TTC. But the key to it all is to NOT give up. I truly believe that giving up is like giving up on our unborn babies and that wouldn't be fair. I often times feel really defective because my mind tends to wonder and think a bit too much about not ever conceiving. I guess because I have always wanted children and I just never thought this would happen to me. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. sigh... I am glad to hear that the vitex is working to help regulate your cycles :) Thats great news girlie! Just continue focusing on the good that is happening and all will fall into place. I am so so happy you are going to do IVF! Lets just keep the faith my friend and take things one step and one day at a time k!!

Thank you so much Jenn!! Your words of encouragement always have a way of uplifting my spirits and giving me so much faith! I can't thank you enough for your support :) We both are on the road to getting our BFP's yay!! I luv ya too Jenn <3

Jess, stay positive and believe you have such a beautiful spirit I trust that the Lord is going to bless you with your little bundle of joy. I will keep you in prayer as you go through this journey, 2012 is our year!

I can't thank you enough! *deep sigh* it means so much to me to hear those words. Brought tears to my eyes :'-) ... I really appreciate your prayers and yes this year IS our year!! Just need to keep the faith going.

Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers!! Sounds like you have had quit a journey yourself! It's kinda strange how we find comfort in knowing that others have gone through our pain. I am grateful for you and the other ladies on here!

Oh my gosh yes they are lol. I can't believe how fast things are moving! It's so surreal. Just you saying you got goosies, gave me the goosies lol. Awwwe. I am hoping I will get that BFP to share with all of you!!

Thank you love! I am hoping n praying that I can be a success story too! Stories like yours give me hope! I know I will be looking to you for support if I don't get my BFP this cycle. Because I almost feel like I will be giving up. Sigh. I hate how I feel. Thank you again for keeping everything crossed!! xoxo

I am sorry about the BFN, Jess. Keep your chin up! I try to think of my AF as a renewal, a relief from the unknown. The 2WW is totally the worst and I was glad when it is over, negative or not. Cheers to round 2!!!

Thanks ladies! I promise to never give up hope! I need to stay focused on what I can do! And that is try for round 2! Because yes the 2ww is killer but next round will be easier because I am going to completely push aside any false hopes and only worry about missing my period. Nothing will ever ease my mind as to why I experienced the nausea, spotting and excess cervical mucus, maybe it just didn't implant, I will never know. I just cant look back, gotta keep on truckin!

Oh man Jess, I am sorry IUI #1 wasn't it for you guys but I was thinking of you often and checking in the last few days! Hang in there, it's all you can do, and know we are all going to bombard you with supportive messages and notes in the meantime! Hugs sweetie!

It truly does wonders for me to have your support as well as everyone else's on here! I could not get through this without all of you! I am super upset because I had my pre-medicated u/s today for this next cycle and well more things are being revealed. I am going to write a new journal. Deep Sigh. Lord help me.

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